Moonsong Glacier through the fog of an early morn

Her reaction was palpable, which was unusual, coming from her. His head tipped to the side, and he studied her with a slight furrow in his brow. Perhaps he did not quite understand what a conclave was. He was not even certain he knew what a lodge was, when the word came from her mouth.

"What do these words mean to you?" he asked her, watching her expression for more stray emotions. Then, gently, he reminded her: "I did not grow up with either of these words. Where I am from, we only say family. These are your blood, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Sometimes many generations of these. But we do not build a lodge, as the seal people seem to know it. We sleep like this, under the stars, or beneath the trees. And children may disperse to go and make their own families, or they may bring lovers back to the fold and grow our family with the children that come of it. Or two brothers may go out together, as Valiant and I have. He has found a woman to start his own family with."

And I have found you, he thought, but did not speak aloud. She was surely not ready to start a family. And if she was, Dutch did not feel quite secure in the idea of her being the vessel of his own children. The ship, he thought, was not quite fit for sea.